Telephones
All calls on-island are local calls; calls from one island to another via a land line are long distance and you must dial 1; then the Hawaii area code, 808; and then the phone number. Many convenience groceries and packaging services sell prepaid calling cards in denominations up to $50. Many public pay phones at airports now accept American Express, MasterCard, and Visa. Local calls made from most pay phones cost 50¢. Most long-distance and international calls can be dialed directly from any phone. To make calls within the United States and to Canada, dial 1 followed by the area code and the seven-digit number. For other international calls, dial 011 followed by the country code, city code, and the number you are calling.
Calls to area codes 800, 888, 877, and 866 are toll-free. However, calls to area codes 700 and 900 (chat lines, bulletin boards, "dating" services, and so on) can be expensive -- charges of 95¢ to $3 or more per minute. Some numbers have minimum charges that can run $15 or more.
For reversed-charge or collect calls, and for person-to-person calls, dial the number 0 then the area code and number; an operator will come on the line, and you should specify whether you are calling collect, person-to-person, or both. If your operator-assisted call is international, ask for the overseas operator.
For directory assistance ("Information"), dial 411 for local numbers and national numbers in the U.S. and Canada. For dedicated long-distance information, dial 1, then the appropriate area code plus 555-1212.
Mobile Phones—Cellphone coverage is decent throughout Hawaii but can be inconsistent in the more remote and mountainous regions of the Islands. AT&T and Verizon tend to get the best reception.
If you are traveling from outside of the U.S., you may want to purchase an international SIM card for your cellphone or buy a prepaid cellphone with local service.
Do not use your cellphone while you are driving. Strict laws and heavy fines ($297 and up) are diligently enforced.
Internet & Wi-Fi—On every island, branches of the Hawaii State Public Library System have free computers with Internet access. To find your closest library, check www.librarieshawaii.org/sitemap.htm. There is no charge for use of the computers, but you must have a Hawaii library card, which is free to Hawaii residents and members of the military. Visitors can visit any branch to purchase a $10 visitor card that is good for 3 months.
If you have your own laptop, every Starbucks in Hawaii has Wi-Fi. For a list of locations, go to www.starbucks.com/retail/find/default.aspx. Many, if not most, hotel lobbies also have free Wi-Fi. Whole Foods is another reliable option. Copy shops like FedEx Office offer computer stations with software (as well as Wi-Fi).
Most interisland airports provide basic Wi-Fi access for a per-minute fee. The Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (http://airports.hawaii.gov/hnl) provides Internet service for a fee through Shaka Net.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
